The Bible tells us in Genesis chapter 3, “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
My question is, WHY was it Holy Ground? Why was that piece of geography suddenly “holy”? Was it holy before the bush started burning? Or was it holy because the angel of the Lord was there as an God-authorized assignment to get Moses’ attention for a purpose?
I submit that wherever the Lord is present with purpose, we feel a burn, a heat, a holy intense pressure to pay attention. Sure, He really is everywhere. But when He has a specific purpose or assignment for us to do, His presence overwhelms us, doesn’t it? Moses saw the burning bush and felt the heat. Isn’t that where the expression, “feeling the heat” comes from? It is a sense of awareness that something has to be done, and we are in the epicenter of that solution.
On the Road to Emmaus after Jesus rose from the grave and believers were being told about the powerful miracle, two believers discussed it starting in verse 13: “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”
Jesus and the two engaged in a conversation resulting with Jesus spending time and dinner with them. Towards the end of the visit, Jesus spoke sharply with them how they weren’t paying attention to current events and all what the prophets had said.
As dinner began, and during the blessing of the meal, Jesus opened their eyes so they could really know who they were in fellowship with. “And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed…”
To wrap up, wherever the Lord is, it is holy ground. When we pray to Him, or with Him, or about Him; remember it is holy ground. That place, that moment in time when we purposefully shun every-day activities, and divorce ourselves of the stresses and heartbreak, and meet Him; that is a holy place. It is a closet? Sure. Is it a secluded outdoor retreat? Could be. Is it a designated room in a church? Why not. The point is the purpose.
At Work on Purpose has a purpose. To bring Christ to the workplace with authority, with grace, with authenticity, with accountability, and with love for unbelievers and believers alike. But the Lord started it thousands of years ago. As we go through our day, let us willingly go into His presence in prayer and deep worship. It is holy ground. When we get our assignments, we will experience our own burning. It is a call to action!
“Lord, thank You forour impressing upon us the purpose we have in this life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”